Volleyball Systems and Strategies: Book Review

Volleyball Systems and Strategies is a book produced by USA Volleyball based on the work done in its Coaches Accreditation Program (CAP). It’s a very comprehensive look at the next level of volleyball above individual skill, that is, how a team plays as a unit. To that end, I think it has the potential to be very useful for new and developing coaches, and anyone thinking about how they can try to maximize their team’s performance given the types of players at their disposal.

There are six main sections in the book:

  1. Serve, Transition and Serve Receive analyzes the types of serves available (floating, spin spin, etc.) and team serve receiving patterns.
  2. defensive systems describes the ways a team can be set up in terms of ground defense positioning and blocking.
  3. defensive strategies discusses the different ways the above systems can be employed based on the strengths and weaknesses of your team and/or your opponent.
  4. Offensive Systems it focuses on the different ways an offense can be set up, such as 5-1 or 6-2.
  5. Offensive Strategies looks at different ways to employ an offensive system to give your team’s attackers an advantage.
  6. Systems, strategies and the team he concentrates on developing good training plans and managing the will of the team before, during and after games.

Each section of the book is divided into chapters that focus on one aspect of the larger topic. These chapters generally present the following elements:

  • An initial description of the system or strategy.
  • personal requirements
  • Advantages and disadvantages
  • Implementation Options
  • training points

The last chapter of each section (except the last) lists a series of exercises designed to work on the system or strategy covered. There are up to 20 exercises in the list. That should give the reading coach plenty to work with to help integrate the systems into their team’s game.

There is a companion DVD with the book that covers the main topics listed above except #6. It also shows some of the included exercises. It lasts approximately one hour.

There is a lot of material in Volleyball Systems and Strategies, but it is quite concise and clearly presented. I think it’s safe to say that if the reader can understand it all, they will be well on their way to finding the right systems and strategies for any team they coach, regardless of competitive level. That’s why I give him a good recommendation.

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